Haliburton Highlands Health Services president and CEO Carolyn Plummer and board chair David O'Brien appear before a special meeting of Haliburton County council on May 26, 2023 after releasing a plan to consolidate the Minden and Haliburton emergency departments. After that presentation, Minden Hills Township mayor Bob Carter called on the board to resign. (kawarthaNOW screenshot)
Less than two weeks after the Minden emergency department permanently closed, Haliburton Highlands Health Services president and CEO Carolyn Plummer has gone on a medical leave of absence.
Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) announced on Monday (June 12) that, effective immediately, Veronica Nelson will be acting president and CEO during Plummer’s medical leave.
Nelson is being seconded from her position as vice president and CEO at Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay.
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“The HHHS board of directors would like to thank CEO Plummer for her hard work and dedication, particularly during the past few months, and we recognize the importance of looking after her health,” says HHHS chair David O’Brien in a media release. “We wish her all the best as she addresses her medical issues.”
While no details have been released about Plummer’s personal health issues, the announcement of her medical leave comes less than two weeks after the Minden emergency department was permanently closed on June 1.
Plummer and O’Brien had announced the closure on April 20, which was followed by six weeks of intense opposition from local residents and politicians, with Plummer and O’Brien attending several municipal and county council meetings to explain the rationale for the closure, which they said was made because of ongoing staffing shortages. After Plummer and O’Brien presented a plan to consolidate the Minden and Haliburton emergency departments to Haliburton County council on May 26, Minden Hills Township mayor Bob Carter called on the board to resign.
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HHHS acting president and CEO Veronica Nelson will be responsible for all aspects of the role during Plummer’s absence, according to a media release, and will work closely with
the HHS board and leadership team on the continued delivery of all services at HHHS.
Nelson, who worked at HHHS as a medical radiation technologist earlier in her career, has more than 30 years of health care and has been on Ross Memorial Hospital’s executive leadership team since 2015, including serving as interim president and CEO from March 2019 to April 2020.
Currently co-leading the Kawartha Lakes Haliburton Ontario Health Team, Nelson has been overseeing the diagnostic imaging and laboratory departments at both HHHS and Ross Memorial Hospital and will continue to do so during her role as HHHS acting president and CEO.
“Ross Memorial Hospital and Haliburton Highlands Health Services are both organizations that mean a great deal to me,” Nelson says. “I am excited to bring my skill set and experience to working with the HHHS board of directors and team members throughout the organization. I know how incredibly important HHHS and its services are to patients, residents, and the community.”
This photo of a yellow trillium at sunset at Millbrook Valley Trails by Kirk Hillsley was our top Instagram post for May 2023. (Photo: Kirk Hillsley @kirkhillsley / Instagram)
It would not be May in the Kawarthas without an abundance of photos of trilliums, loons, and herons — along with a few sunsets, sunrises, and coffee on the dock!
If you can survive the black flies of May (we did), then you are golden to get a good shot. Thanks again to all of our local photographers who bear all the little beasties to share these beautiful captures with us.
Do you want to get on our top photographers list? All you need is an Insta account and to tag us using our hashtag #kawarthanow when posting your photo.
We share photos from across our readership area, which is the five-county area surrounding Peterborough which includes Peterborough, Northumberland, City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, and Hastings (we sneak in the occasional Algonquin Park picture as well, particularly if it’s by a Kawarthas photographer).
To see our daily shares of photos, follow us on Instagram @kawarthanow and check out our feed’s highlight reels for recaps of every month in 2023.
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#1. Yellow trillium at sunset at Millbrook Valley Trails by Kirk Hillsley @kirkhillsley
Abundant with lakes and nestled along rugged northern Ontario landscapes, the Haliburton Highlands is a popular destination for cyclists of all ages and abilities. It's easy to get started cycling in the Haliburton Highlands as nearly 40 curated cycling routes are available via Ride with GPS, a website and mobile app that helps people discover and plan cycling routes. (Photo courtesy of Haliburton Highlands Economic Development & Tourism)
Whether you’re planning an active summer with the family, want to explore new areas, or just looking for fitness or fun, the Haliburton Highlands has a cycling route for everyone.
Abundant with lakes and nestled along rugged northern Ontario landscapes, the Haliburton Highlands is a popular destination for cyclists of all ages and abilities. It’s not surprising given how much the region has to offer, including scenic vistas with stops along the way where riders can enjoy some refreshments or just take a breather and soak in the natural beauty.
“You will find yourself riding right along the edge of a really stunning Canadian Shield lake,” says Thom Lambert, content creator for the Haliburton Highlands Economic Development and Tourism Department. “You can stop along a river or at one of several villages that offer really cool local opportunities where you can refuel and explore — whether it’s a food truck out in Irondale or a riverside brewpub in Minden. It’s just very different than riding in other places.”
As the flattest place in the Haliburton Highlands to ride, the 32-kilometre Haliburton County Rail Trail is a perfect choice for first-time or casual cyclists. It offers many different destinations for cyclists, and you can depart from various parking areas and destinations to create your own out-and-back trip. (Photo courtesy of Haliburton Highlands Economic Development & Tourism)
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It’s easy to get started cycling in the Haliburton Highlands as nearly 40 curated cycling routes are available via Ride with GPS, a website and mobile app that helps people discover and plan cycling routes.
“This app is a complete game changer for cycling destinations,” says Lambert, noting it’s currently one of the most-used apps for cyclists. “It helps us let people know the really wide variety of cycling that’s available here.”
On the app, users can explore all their route options, and then download a free trail map directly to their smartphones or to an alternative GPS device. Typically, cyclists will mount a mobile device to their handlebars and can follow along with the map as it tracks their ride.
Haliburton Highlands has nearly 40 curated cycling routes available on Ride with GPS, a website and mobile app that helps people discover and plan cycling routes. The 16.5-kilometre Bakery-to-Bakery route is one of the most accessible and popular routes. (kawarthaNOW screenshot)
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Describing Ride with GPS as similar to a social media platform, Lambert explains that users can save (or “pin”) their favourite routes, comment on them, upload photos, and send them to friends.
“You can record your ride and then share it, so you have bragging rights with all your cycling buddies,” he says.
Unlike other similar platforms, Ride with GPS works specifically with the route developers, ensuring that each map is depicted accurately.
“The Ride with GPS app does a phenomenal job supporting organizations like ours that want to promote cycling in the area,” says Lambert. He explains that the app developers are all experienced and passionate cyclists themselves.
The family-friendly Bakery-to-Bakery route in the Haliburton Highlands is great for young riders or first-time gravel riders. It’s mostly flat and, with a bakery as the destination, it’s a great way to motivate young riders to keep going. (Photo courtesy of Haliburton Highlands Economic Development & Tourism)
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As another benefit to cycling in the Haliburton Highlands, users are able to download the routes completely free of cost since the Haliburton Highlands Economic Development and Tourism Department has a tourism account with the app.
When scrolling through the app, users will find a wide range of options for cycling in the Haliburton Highlands including gravel and on-road routes, as well as routes through the Haliburton Forest.
According to Lambert, gravel riding is the “fastest growing aspect of cycling right now.” There are over 20 gravel routes in the region, all of which are scenic, remote, and adventurous, catering to differing skill levels.
The Bakery-to-Bakery route is one of the most accessible and popular routes. At 16.5 kilometres in length, this family-friendly route is mostly flat, taking cyclists from Haliburton to the hamlet of Donald where a seasonal bakery, The Little Tart, makes a perfect pit stop for snacks to keep riders energized for the rest of the journey.
“The Bakery-to-Bakery route is great if you’ve got young riders or first-time gravel riders,” Lambert explains. “It’s not hilly and it has a great destination when you’re trying to convince your child to keep going.”
The epic Haliburton Highlands Big Loop could be a one-day survival fest or a multi-day bikepacking or village-hopping trip. Mainly gravel with some pavement, the route offers rugged and remote adventure riding and multiple places to stop and refuel. (Photo courtesy of Haliburton Highlands Economic Development & Tourism)
On the other end of the spectrum, there’s the 285-kilometre route aptly named The Big Loop. With 3,500 metres of elevation gain among rugged and remote adventure riding, this route is not for the faint-hearted.
Although it’s meant for advanced riders, Lambert explains that beginners and moderately skilled bikers will often challenge themselves by only completing some sections of the route in a day, or by completing the entire route as part of a multi-day adventure.
Most of the gravel routes in the Haliburton Highlands lie somewhere on the spectrum between the Bakery-to-Bakery route and the Big Loop, with each around 60 to 70 kilometres long.
As for on-road routes, the maps used on Ride with GPS were converted from paper maps created by a group called Cycle Haliburton. These maps, which include almost every road in the region, can be downloaded in PDF version at cyclehaliburton.ca/cycling-map with paper copies available at tourist information centres, public libraries, and various other locations across Haliburton County.
Haliburton Forest and Wild Life Reserve in the Haliburton Highlands offers more than 300 kilometres of forest access roads and multi-use trails. Trail passes are required and available at Kennisis Lake Base Camp. (Photo courtesy of Haliburton Highlands Economic Development & Tourism)
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For the beginning or casual road cyclist, Lambert recommends the 33-kilometre North Shore Road route. An out-and-back route along quiet cottage roads with restaurants to mark the half-way point, it’s enjoyable for riders of any skill level.
For some challenging on-road cycling, there’s a 120-kilometre route that takes cyclists through Minden, Haliburton, and Carnarvon — three of the largest communities in the Haliburton Highlands.
According to Lambert, exploring the Haliburton Highlands by bicycle is not only good for your health, but good for the environment too.
“We’re very conscious about the sustainability of tourist activities,” Lambert says. “Cycling is one of the most sustainable ways to see a large portion of any destination.”
For mountain bikers of all skill levels, Sir Sam’s Ski & Bike offers nine kilometres of downhill trails and 13 kilometres of cross-country trails overlooking Eagle Lake north of the town of Haliburton. (Photo courtesy of Haliburton Highlands Economic Development & Tourism)
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As well as helping cyclists follow the routes, the Ride with GPS app will also alert them to significant locations along the way including restaurants, lookouts, historical sites, and even emergency services.
“You can literally show up never having been to the Haliburton Highlands, download one of the cycling routes, and go for a ride knowing those routes have all been completely scouted on the ground,” Lambert explains. “You can follow the route without being familiar with any of the trails or roads and you won’t miss a thing.”
For those looking for the most flexibility when cycling in the Haliburton Highlands, Lambert recommends choosing the right type of bicycle.
“Rent or buy a bicycle that allows you to ride on as many surfaces as possible,” he says, adding that wide tires and bikes that let riders “sit upright” will go a long way toward comfort.
For casual or older riders exploring the Haliburton Highlands, e-bikes can be a good option as they make it easier to keep up with other riders and deal with hilly terrain. (Photo courtesy of Haliburton Highlands Economic Development & Tourism)
Lambert says e-bikes are also a good option, especially for casual or older riders, as they make it easier to keep up with other riders and deal with hilly terrain.
“E-bikes have changed the cycling world in a way that probably no cycling technology has changed the world in the last 100 years,” he points out.
The most important thing for a comfortable ride, Lambert adds, is to make sure your bike is set up properly before you head out.
“Get your bike from a local bike shop that will set it up, because pretty much all the comfort has to do with how that bicycle is adjusted and a good local shop will do that for you.”
Cycling routes in the Haliburton Highlands feature scenic vistas with stops along the way where riders can enjoy some refreshments or just take a breather and soak in the natural beauty. (Photo courtesy of Haliburton Highlands Economic Development & Tourism)
As for Lambert, you might see him this summer cycling his favourite route, the South Haliburton Ramble. The 85-kilometre mostly gravel trail goes through three villages and along cottage roads, and includes an optional “adventurous” ATV trail section.
“It has everything the Haliburton Highlands has to offer,” he says — including a pit stop for French fries if you need to load up on carbs.
For a full list of gravel biking and on-road cycling routes and mountain biking trails in the Haliburton Highlands, and to learn more about bicycle rentals and repairs and guided tours, visit the My Haliburton Highlands website at myhaliburtonhighlands.com/biking-cycling/, where you can also find information about local accommodations, restaurants, events, and more.
This branded editorial was created in partnership with Haliburton Highlands Economic Development & Tourism. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for most of the Kawarthas region for heavy rain overnight Sunday (June 11) into early Tuesday morning.
The special weather statement is in effect for Peterborough County, the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Hastings Highlands.
A wet start to the week is expected as a low-pressure system pushes into the Great Lakes basin Sunday night. Rain from this low will continue to push in across the region overnight, continuing through Monday, and then tapering off by early Tuesday morning.
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The heaviest rainfall is expected Monday afternoon.
Rainfall amounts across the region are expected to be near 30 to 50 millimetres with locally higher amounts possible by the time rain clears out early Tuesday morning.
There still remains some uncertainty with rainfall amounts and the exact track of the low. Environment Canada may issue rainfall warnings.
Mai Dong was just 23 years old when she took over Rare restaurant last August with co-owner and executive chef Andrew Lewin. An award-winning recent graduate of Fleming College's culinary management program, she mentored under Lewin and is Rare Restaurant and Bar's sous chef and front-of-house manager. (Photo courtesy of Rare Restaurant and Bar)
Since it was first opened by Brad and Katie Watt as Rare Grill House in 2007, Rare restaurant has been a staple in downtown Peterborough, recognized as one of the best fine-dining establishments in the city. Now, new owners Andrew Lewin and Mai Dong are building on that reputation with a new name, a new menu, chef tastings, and monthly events.
Last August, previous owners Tyler and Kassy Scott — who purchased Rare Grill House in 2019 — sold Rare Culinary Art Studio, as the restaurant was most recently known, to Lewin and Dong, who have relaunched it as Rare Restaurant and Bar.
Lewin’s previous roles both as a chef du cuisine and a sous chef have prepared him to take over Rare’s kitchen as executive chef. Dong, who was last year’s silver medallist at the Skills Canada National Competition after landing gold at the provincial level, is sous chef and front-of-house manager.
Andrew Lewin is the executive chef and co-owner of Rare Restaurant and Bar alongside sous chef and front-of-house manager Mai Dong. A world traveller with over 25 years of experience, Lewin previously worked as a chef du cuisine as well as a sous chef. He has mentored Dong as she pursues her culinary career. (Photo courtesy of Rare Restaurant and Bar)
Though the duo are now co-owners of Rare, this isn’t the first time they’ve worked together. Lewin was Dong’s mentor while she worked with the chef — a world traveller with over 25 years of experience — at his previous ventures. Having just arrived from Vietnam to study culinary management at Fleming College, she was drawn to his ability to work with the Asian flavours and simple ingredients with which she had grown up.
“He’s the one I’ve always wanted to learn from,” says Dong. “Chef Andrew has travelled the world and has picked up the best techniques and skills from all over.”
Before Rare went up for sale, Dong had no intention of purchasing a restaurant. Inspired by her mentor, she was planning to travel after completing her studies before eventually returning to work in a commercial hotel kitchen. When she saw the Scotts were selling Rare, she encouraged Lewin to purchase it so he could have a kitchen of his own calibre.
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“I encouraged him because it’s a four-season restaurant and he cooks such great food,” Dong recalls. “If he has his own restaurant, people will know who he is. When you work for others, it really limits your creations.”
She didn’t intend to be involved in the restaurant’s operation until she first stepped into Rare.
“I remember thinking ‘This is such a beautiful space’ and I just fell in love.”
She decided that co-owning the restaurant would allow her to not only continue to learn from her mentor, but would also give her the opportunity to practise what she had learned after graduating in 2022 from Fleming College — which has since announced Dong as the recipient of the college’s 2023 Alumna of Distinction award, recognizing outstanding alumni who have made significant contributions in their professional field and communities.
The menu at Rare Restaurant and Bar caters to everyone, and includes a selection of share plates like the farmer’s platter. Assorted meats, including duck salami, are at the centre of the plate, surrounded by Ontario-awarded goat cheese from Quebec, house preserves, pickles, nuts, and crostini. (Photo courtesy of Rare Restaurant and Bar)
Together, the duo first opened the restaurant on August 31, 2022 — Dong’s 23rd birthday.
Though opening the restaurant was intimidating, Dong says it helped to have had the support of previous owners Tyler and Kassy Scott throughout the first few months of operation.
“We respect the history of the restaurant and we respect the people who originally built it and the people who’ve visited,” Dong says, adding they’ve worked “to earn the trust” of previous customers.
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To honour the restaurant’s history, Dong says they’ve kept much of the feel of Rare but have added their own creations to the menu.
“We still have the best steaks in town, but at the same time we’ve put it in our own colours and our own flavours.”
Though Rare had continued to serve previous chef Tyler Scott’s original menu until a few weeks ago, the new menu introduces French cuisine-inspired delicacies you won’t find in other local restaurants — including crispy frog legs, roasted pig tails, and roasted bone marrow. Although some people were initially surprised by these dishes, according to Dong, they’ve since become some of the most popular items on the menu.
The sous vide King Cole duck at Rare Restaurant and Bar features housemade truffle gnocchi and roasted baby carrots. Along with the new menu, Rare also has daily specials including happy hours from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and an occasional Sunday brunch buffet. (Photo courtesy of Rare Restaurant and Bar)
Along with steaks, entrées include Cornish hen, duck, pork, and salmon — all prepared by Lewin and Dong with fine-dining flair.
“We wanted to spice it up and we wanted to our own thing,” Dong explains. “Every single plate going out is beautiful.”
That includes the restaurant’s more traditional and affordable offerings, including a burger, a vegetarian pasta, and fish and chips.
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“We’re fine dining but that doesn’t mean that you can’t have more affordable options,” Dong explains. “It lets everybody come in and not just when you’re celebrating an anniversary or a birthday.”
In fact, Rare offers something for almost every day of the week, including the Monday to Saturday happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. On top of that, Mondays offer half-price appetizers, Tuesday is Pasta Day, Wednesdays are half-price specials on house bottles of wine, and Thursday offers date nights for couples — including a three-course meal with wine pairing.
A separate menu is available for occasional Sunday brunch buffets, including on Father’s Day. The menu puts a twist on the traditional brunch menu, offering an avocado toast that’s topped with a torched salmon and the French toast with matcha coconut. Favourite brunch bevvies, like mimosas and espresso martinis, are also available.
The cider-brined grilled pork loin at Rare Restaurant and Bar is completed with peas purée, sugar snap peas, apple gastric, and confit fingerlings. (Photo courtesy of Rare Restaurant and Bar)
For a change from the restaurant’s regular menu, Rare also hosts chef tastings with a different theme each month. Previous tastings have featured Mexican and French cuisine, while just last month, guests were able to taste Dong’s award-winning dishes from last year’s Skills competition. At the end of June, Rare will provide a five-course tasting menu of “scallop bliss” with wine pairing.
Like the menu, the dining room itself offers the best of both casual and upscale, with the opportunity to book private dining and catering for special events. An open-concept kitchen lets guests watch Lewin cook up their meals and provides a space where they can learn from him.
At a special event last month, guests were invited to watch as Lewin made fresh ramen, while coming up in June, Dong hopes to host a spring roll night that will invite guests to come in and roll their own.
The new menu at Rare Restaurant and Bar features such French cuisine-inspired dishes like roasted bone marrow. This two-piece dish includes herb salad, pickled onions, capers, and sprouted mustard. (Photo courtesy of Rare Restaurant and Bar)
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These events are part of Dong and Lewins’ efforts to create a space that feels less like a typical restaurant and more like an opportunity to come together and celebrate food.
While Dong describes Rare Restaurant and Bar as being “like a studio,” she and Lewin decided not to keep the previous name of Rare Culinary Arts Studio to avoid confusion from guests. After previous owners Tyler and Kassy Scott renamed their original restaurant from Rare to Rare Culinary Arts Studio last year, they no longer provided regular dinner service.
“We do want to redefine what a restaurant is,” Dong explains. “It’s not just to come in, eat, and go out. Food is an art. Why do you have a studio for any other art like music and painting but not a culinary studio?”
Mentored by Rare Restaurant and Bar’s executive chef Andrew Lewin, sous chef and front-of-house manager Mai Dong graduated from Fleming College’s culinary management program in 2022. She was last year’s silver medallist at the Skills Canada National Competition after landing gold at the provincial level, and was recently announced as the recipient of Fleming College’s 2023 Alumna of Distinction award. (Photo courtesy of Rare Restaurant and Bar)
Rare Restaurant and Bar is currently open at 166 Brock Street in downtown Peterborough. Visit www.rareculinaryartsstudio.ca to see the dinner and brunch menus.
To learn more about upcoming events and chef’s tastings, follow Rare Restaurant and Bar on Instagram and Facebook.
This branded editorial was created in partnership with Rare Restaurant and Bar. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
Terry Guiel, executive director of the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), with a poster for the New Canadians Centre's 2023 Multicultural Food Crawl at Poco Burro, one of 10 downtown restaurants participating in the food crawl that runs during the month of June, with a free sampling day on June 24 and the chance to win Boro gift cards. (Photo courtesy of Terry Guiel)
The New Canadians Centre is encouraging Nogojiwanong-Peterborough residents to sample the flavours of the world during the Multicultural Food Crawl in June, leading up to the non-profit organization’s second Canadian Multicultural Festival from June 23 to 30.
The festival includes Canadian Multiculturalism Day on Tuesday, June 27th. First celebrated in 2003, Canadian Multiculturalism Day is dedicated to celebrating the diverse cultures that make up Canada. The New Canadians Centre supports more than 1,000 newcomers every year from over 90 countries and speaking more than 60 different languages, and each of them bring unique customs, music, dance, food, sports, and stories that contribute to a vibrant community.
For the Multicultural Food Crawl, the New Canadians Centre has teamed up with the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) to highlight international dishes available at 10 restaurants in downtown Peterborough.
A mix of Middle Eastern salads and appetizers from Levantine Grill, one of 10 downtown Peterborough restaurants participating in the New Canadians Centre’s 2023 Multicultural Food Crawl during the month of June. For the free sampling day on June 24, Levantine Grill will be offering lentil salad and stuffed grape leaves. (Photo courtesy of Levantine Grill)
The participating restaurants are Bhojan Indian Cuisine and Bar, Brothers Pizza, Curry Mantra, Dirty Burger, La Hacienda, La Mesita, Levantine Grill, Milk and Tea Shop, Naka Japanese, and Poco Burro / Poco Gelato.
Until June 30, for every $10 you spend at one of the participating restaurants, you will receive a stamp to add to your Multicultural Food Passport. Passports can be picked up at any of the participating restaurants or at the New Canadians Centre’s office at 221 Romaine Street in downtown Peterborough.
Everyone who collects six or more stamps by the end of the month will be entered into a draw to win one of three $100 Boro gift cards that can be redeemed at downtown businesses.
Participating Restaurants – Multicultural Festival Food Crawl
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“Downtown is the place to go to try flavours from around the world in Peterborough,” says DBIA executive director Terry Guiel. “We love that this partnership with our friends at the New Canadians Centre continues to highlight the multiculturalism that exists within our downtown restaurant scene.”
As part of the Multicultural Food Crawl, locals and visitors alike are invited to stroll the streets of downtown Peterborough on Saturday, June 24th for Flavours of the World Sampling Day. Between 12 p.m. and 7 p.m., each of the participating restaurants will be giving out free samples of some of their favourite and most diverse dishes.
Some of the sample dishes showcase traditional techniques and cooking methods, like the karaage chicken sliders that can be sampled at Naka Japanese. Karaage is a Japanese cooking technique in which food is marinated before being deep-fried and, in the case of the Naka samplers, put into a mini-sandwich. Owner Susan Tung describes the sampler as a “Japanese version of a fried-chicken sandwich.”
Naka Japanese is one of 10 downtown Peterborough restaurants participating in the New Canadians Centre’s 2023 Multicultural Food Crawl during the month of June. For the free sampling day on June 24, Naka Japanese will be offering karaage chicken sliders, which owner Susan Tung describes as a “Japanese version of a fried-chicken sandwich.” (Photo courtesy of Naka Japanese)
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“I’m very passionate about expanding the amount of diversity in Peterborough,” says Tung, explaining why she was eager to participate in the Multicultural Food Crawl. “The more options we have here, the more people we can cater to and make feel welcome in our community. It’s really important to highlight the different foods we have here that people don’t even know about.”
Some of the participating restaurants are new businesses that see the Multicultural Food Crawl as a great way to introduce themselves to the Peterborough community.
“We are a new business trying to set up in the community and giving a sample is a good way to show people what they can expect from us,” says Minal Budrani, co-owner of Poco Burro Burritos.
At Poco Burro, June 24th samplers will feature tastings of their burrito fillings, including two of their most popular proteins, the homemade Spicy Chicken 65 and their vegetarian tangy chickpea. Gelato from their new venture, Poco Gelato, will also be available for sampling.
Dirty Burger is one of 10 downtown Peterborough restaurants participating in the New Canadians Centre’s 2023 Multicultural Food Crawl during the month of June. For the free sampling day on June 24, Chef Om Patel will be serving up vadas, a potato patty fried in a chickpea batter and served with on chutney. (Photo courtesy of Dirty Burger)
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“The sampling day on June 24th gives the restaurants an opportunity to showcase special recipes from their culture, and also gives community members a chance to go around and experience a variety of cuisines,” Guiel says.
For Chef Om Patel, owner of Dirty Burger, Flavours of the World Sampling Day is an opportunity to feature items on his menu heavily influenced by his Ugandan and Indian heritage.
“It’s rare to see these items at a burger joint, so we want to showcase that and share this heritage,” he says.
That’s why Dirty Burger will be serving up vadas, which Patel calls an “Indian street food staple,” that involves frying a potato patty with a chickpea batter and serving it on chutney. His vadas are vegan, gluten-free, and — Om assures — not as spicy as the ones typically served in India.
La Hacienda is one of 10 downtown Peterborough restaurants participating in the New Canadians Centre’s 2023 Multicultural Food Crawl during the month of June. For the free sampling day on June 24, La Hacienda will be offering esquites (Mexican street corn). (Photo courtesy of La Hacienda)
Other tasty treats participants can expect to find on June 24th include La Hacienda’s esquites (Mexican street corn), La Mesita’s Mayan cupcakes, Bhojan’s Indian cumin-spiced lemonade, Curry Mantra’s samosas and spring rolls, Levantine Grill’s lentil salad and stuffed grape leaves, and more.
The New Canadians Centre is encouraging participants to share their love of Peterborough’s international cuisine by voting for their favourite restaurant in the Multicultural Food Crawl and by tagging the New Canadians Centre @newcanadianscentre #multiculturalfoodcrawlptbo on Instagram or Facebook.
The New Canadians Centre and the DBIA will draw two votes and two social media posts at random, with each of the four winners receiving a $25 Boro gift card.
Poco Burro / Poco Gelato is one of 10 downtown Peterborough restaurants participating in the New Canadians Centre’s 2023 Multicultural Food Crawl during the month of June. For the free sampling day on June 24, the restaurant will feature tastings of their burrito fillings as well as gelato. (Photo courtesy of Poco Burro / Poco Gelato)
The New Canadians Centre’s Canadian Multicultural Festival, running from June 23 to 30, kicks off with a Family Zumba Party from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, June 23rd at Quaker Foods City Square in downtown Peterborough. Organized in partnership with the City of Peterborough, the event features free face-painting, henna tattoos, giveaways, and more.
The festival also features a “Try It” Series to introduce participants to dance, cooking, sports, and crafts from across the world facilitated by experts in the community and newcomers who share a love of their cultural traditions. The five-part series runs from June 26 to 30 at the New Canadians Centre, the YMCA, and Quaker Foods City Square.
Marking World Refugee Day on June 20, there will also be a panel discussion called “Healing and Hope – Reflections on Refugee Experiences in Canada” from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 27th at the Peterborough Public Library.
The New Canadians Centre’s Canadian Multicultural Festival, running from June 23 to 30, 2023, celebrates the diverse cultures that make up Nogojiwanong-Peterborough. (Graphic courtesy of New Canadians Centre)
This branded editorial was created in partnership with the New Canadians Centre. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
This story has been updated with a new date, time, and location of the Family Zumba Party kick-off for the Canadian Multicultural Festival.
Zijian (Suzanne) Tian from Lakefield College School and Ava Cummings from Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School are the 2023 recipients of the annual Bierk Art Fund Bursary Program, and will each receive a $1,000 bursary to pursue higher education in the visual arts. (Supplied photos)
Two graduating Peterborough high school students will each receive a $1,000 bursary to pursue higher education in the visual arts, thanks to the annual Bierk Art Fund Bursary Program.
Zijian (Suzanne) Tian, who is graduating from Lakefield College School, will be pursuing studies at Parsons School of Design in New York, and Ava Cummings, who is graduating from Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School, will be attending Durham College’s animation program.
An assessment panel of respected local artists and arts professionals selected Tian and Cummings as the bursary recipients after the students presented their work. This year’s panel was comprised of professional artist and educator Cyd Hosker and Art Gallery of Peterborough curator Fynn Leitch.
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Born in Shanxi, China, Tian works in media such as watercolour, 3D print, pottery, photography, collage, and fashion design. She will be pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in the fashion design program at Parsons School of Design in New York.
“It is not just about designing clothes,” Tian states in a media release from theElectric City Culture Council (EC3), “It is a ladder to connect the world, to share ideas; a starting point for spreading equity, inclusion, and social justice; a place of beauty in many forms of expression.”
According to EC3, the assessment panel felt Tian was extremely articulate about her process and the emotional aspect of her art making, and they were impressed by the level of maturity and technique exhibited in the work.
Zijian (Suzanne) Tian will be pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in the fashion design program at Parsons School of Design in New York. The Bierk Art Fund Bursary Program assessment panel felt Tian was extremely articulate about her process and the emotional aspect of her art making, and they were impressed by the level of maturity and technique exhibited in the work. (Supplied photo)
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Cummings is graduating from the visual arts program at Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School and will be attending Durham College to study 2D and 3D digital animation. Between her love of drawing and her fascination with animated episodic productions and feature-length movies, Cummings says she feels drawn to the animation industry.
“There is nothing more I want to do than draw and be creative,” Cumming says, adding she is “especially keen on character design, storyboarding, and clean-up animation.”
According to EC3, the assessment panel was intrigued by her overall portfolio, particularly the strength of her imaginative representation of post-apocalyptic feminist characters.
Ava Cummings will be attending Durham College to study 2D and 3D digital animation. The Bierk Art Fund Bursary Program assessment panel was intrigued by her overall portfolio, particularly the strength of her imaginative representation of post-apocalyptic feminist characters. (Supplied photo)
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Administered by EC3, the Bierk Art Fund is an endowment fund at the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough (CFGP) established in 2006 through public donations to honour the lives and work of the late Peterborough arts champions Liz Bierk and her husband, artist David Bierk.
“EC3 is pleased to have this opportunity to support and encourage these young artists and is excited to see what they create as post-secondary students in the visual and media arts,” reads the media release.
“EC3 would like to thank the CFGP for their generous financial support for the Bierk Art Fund Bursary Program, and our partner the Art Gallery of Peterborough for hosting this project.”
The Port Hope Makers' Market will be located at Memorial Park in Port Hope from 3:30 to 8 p.m. every Thursday in July and August beginning on July 6, offering food, craft, and arts. (Photo: Google Maps)
The weekly outdoor Port Hope Makers’ Market is moving to Memorial Park this summer.
The Market in Memorial Park will run from 3:30 to 8 p.m. every Thursday in July and August beginning on July 6, offering food, craft, and arts.
This is the second summer for the Port Hope Makers’ Market, which originally launched at Lent Lane last summer.
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“This year we’re setting up shop right where the action is,” says Signe Langford, a chef, writer, and artist who founded the market, in a media release.
That action includes the free Road To Cultivate concert series, which will return to the Memorial Park bandshell from 6 to 8 p.m. every Thursday in July and August.
Last year’s performers included well-known musical acts like Lydia Persaud, Five Alarm Funk, and AHI, along with local musicians including Cale Crow and Melissa Payne. The schedule of this summer’s performers will be released soon.
Chef, writer, and artist Signe Langford is the founder of the Port Hope Makers’ Market. (Photo courtesy of Signe Langford)
“I hope folks will come down early, explore our downtown, then settle in for a night of food, fun, and music,” Langford says. “Bring a blanket and make dinner a picnic. The park is a perfect location, with washrooms and a kids’ playground, and lots of great shops and restaurants nearby.”
Along with vendors and artisans, this year’s market will also be showcasing the talents of ‘kidpreneurs’ 16 and under and will offer complimentary space for charities and community outreach services.
The Port Hope Makers’ Market will also be supporting The Rose Quest, a non-profit charity founded by Rose Wilton to provide personal care and hygiene products to Northumberland County residents in need or experiencing homelessness.
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Langford says she recently held a sewing bee at her Port Hope home, where volunteers sewed donated T-shirts into shopping bags for the market.
“The T-shirts were graciously donated by the volunteers at The Treasure Trove within St. John the Evangelist on Pine Street,” Langford explains. “A group of my friends converted them into reusable shopping bags that will be available at the market for the cost of a donation to The Rose Quest box.”
For more information and updates on The Market in Memorial Park, visit them on Facebook.
Kawartha Downs is adding even more popular motorized events and concerts to its line-up this summer and is inviting local businesses to explore sponsorship opportunities to take advantage of the large crowds the events will bring to the Fraserville entertainment venue. (Photo courtesy of Kawartha Downs)
With over 4,000 visitors attending the two-day Monster Madness Tour at Kawartha Downs earlier in June, kicking off a summer season that will feature more events at the venue than ever before, Kawartha Downs is inviting local businesses of all sizes to explore sponsorship and experiential vendor opportunities.
Located at 1382 County Road 28 in Fraserville, Kawartha Downs celebrated 50 years of harness racing just last year, but the venue offers a lot more. With an all-new 400-foot pull track, slot machines, grandstand dining room, and a country bar (coming soon), Kawartha Downs is an entertainment destination fit for anyone looking to spend their summer weekends immersed in live music, festivals, family fun, and thrilling shows.
Next up on the calendar is the Kawartha SmackDown Demolition Derby on June 17. Kawartha Downs and Impact Motorsport are bringing a packed afternoon of figure 8 racing, stock trucks, windshield compacts, and full-size two-man v8. The derby includes live music, pit parties to meet the drivers, and power wheel competitions for kids.
VIDEO: Kawartha Downs Events (video by Unmanned AV)
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“Kawartha Downs has been the home to harness racing for over 50 years now, and last year we really kicked things off by adding more motorized events and concerts,” says general manager Daniel D’Ercole. “This year, we’re happy to step it up even more.”
Also coming up is the two-day outdoor Kawartha Country Music Festival on July 1 and 2, where fireworks will light up the sky while headliners Dean Brody and co-headliners the James Barker Band and The Reklaws take centre stage. The festival also features Bailieboro native Jade Eagleson, who just won the Fans’ Choice award at the Country Music Association of Ontario Awards on June 4. Sacha will be opening the festival, along with a surprise guest opener.
Later in July, the venue will be hosting a classic car show and a truck and tractor show, before the Kawartha County Fair takes over the grounds on the August long weekend.
Kawartha Downs is hosting the popular Lions Club Classic Car Show in July. (Photo courtesy of Kawartha Downs)
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Kawartha Downs is currently offering sponsorship and experiential vendor opportunities for regional businesses who want to market to the large crowds attending events at the venue. This includes all types of large and small businesses, providing anything from clothing brands to food and beverage to outdoor adventure rentals.
“It’s a great opportunity for local businesses to get their brand out and to get out their messaging,” says D’Ercole. “There’s quite a range of people and consumer demographic they can tap into. It’s a very tight-knit community so local brands can really benefit.”
Multiple levels of packages are available for businesses ranging from a $2,500 to $10,000 sponsorship. The gold package offers the most amount of visibility at each of the six events, with company logos printed on all promotional materials (including banners, posters, and social media) and official merchandise, an official partnership title as a presenting sponsor, event tickets for sponsor staff, friends, and family, a 10-by-10-foot product display booth, and three 2-by-20-foot banners on the event grounds.
Events at Kawartha Downs attract a wide demographic of attendees, with an estimated 59 per cent aged between 26 and 54. (Photo courtesy of Kawartha Downs)
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There is also opportunity to set up in the vendor village, so businesses can personally connect with consumers and sell their products and merchandise directly at the events. D’Ercole highlights the wide demographic of attendees at the events, with an estimated 59 per cent aged between 26 and 54.
“It’s a mutually beneficial partnership too,” D’Ercole adds. “We’re always looking to add experiences to our events, and to make them as accessible as possible for spectators. It adds a nice value if they can connect with the people of the community.”
D’Ercole says Kawartha Downs is flexible in creating a partnership plan that meets a business’s marketing objectives.
“We can work with brands and businesses to whatever constraints they need, providing them with as much value as possible.”
Holiday Inn Peterborough-Waterfront has partnered with Kawartha Downs for the Kawartha Country Music Festival in July, where concert-goers can receive 15 per cent off their stay at the hotel, while two scheduled buses will shuttle concert-goers back and forth from the hotel to the grounds. (Photo courtesy of Kawartha Downs)
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Holiday Inn Peterborough-Waterfront’s partnership with Kawartha Downs demonstrates the mutual benefits of a sponsorship not only for Kawartha Downs and the Holiday Inn, but also for visitors and the local economy. During the weekend of the Kawartha Country Music Festival, concert-goers can receive 15 per cent off their stay at the hotel, while two scheduled buses will shuttle concert-goers back and forth from the hotel to the grounds.
“Holiday Inn is a long-standing member of the Peterborough community,” says D’Ercole. “We want to make sure that our concert-goers that are coming both days have somewhere close to us to stay so that they’re able to really enjoy and get the most out of their experience. We’re really excited about this partnership.”
Kawartha Downs is currently undergoing a revitalization project that will expand the grounds to include more programming, a large-scale concert facility, and a commercial hub, as well as bring housing and residential units. D’Ercole says this revitalization will allow the venue to develop even more relationships within the community.
VIDEO: Kawartha Country Music Festival (video by Unmanned AV)
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As for now, Kawartha Downs is eager to head into a summer featuring the most events they’ve ever offered in a season.
“We’re really excited about the summer,” says D’Ercole. “We’ve got great events, great vendors, and great sponsors, and we hope to be able to work with even more. These events are about having the community come together and providing more chances for residents and businesses to really enjoy being in a community like Peterborough.”
For more information about Kawartha Downs, including a full list of events, visit www.kawarthadowns.com. To inquire about sponsorship opportunities, email Daniel D’Ercole at daniel@kawarthadowns.com.
This branded editorial was created in partnership with Kawartha Downs. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
Juno award-nominated Canadian blues guitarist and singer-songwriter JW-Jones will perform at the Historic Red Dog in downtown Peterborough on Saturday night. (Photo: Kamara Morozuk Photography)
Every Thursday, we publish live music events at pubs and restaurants in Peterborough and the greater Kawarthas region based on information that venues provide to us directly or post on their website or social media channels. Here are the listings for the week of Thursday, June 8 to Wednesday, June 14.
If you’re a pub or restaurant owner and want to be included in our weekly listings, please email our nightlifeNOW editor at nightlife@kawarthanow.com. For concerts and live music events at other venues, check out our Concerts & Live Music page.
With the exception of karaoke, we only list events with performing musicians. Venues may also host other events during the week (e.g., dancing, DJs, comedy shows).
Tuesday, June 20 5pm - Tiki Tuesday ft Gary and the Rough Ideas (no cover)
Dr. J's BBQ & Brews
282 Aylmer St., Peterborough
(705) 874-5717
Thursday, June 8
8-11pm - Thursday Night Jam Session
Coming Soon
Saturday, June 17 1-4pm - Peterborough Musicians Benevolent Association (PMBA) presents Lindsay Barr Band (by donation, $10 suggested, with proceeds to PBMA)
kawarthaNOW.com offers two enews options to help readers stay in the know. Our VIP enews is delivered weekly every Wednesday morning and includes exclusive giveaways, and our news digest is delivered daily every morning. You can subscribe to one or both.
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